Liquid soap dispenser



H. W. DARR INVENToR. Emo/.a W .DAAR

ATTORNEYS LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed June 26,

Dec. 20, 1960 LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Harold W. Darr, E. 22nd St.,Minneapolis, Minn., assigner to Harold B. Shapra, St. Paul, Minn.

Filed June 26, 1958, Ser. No. 744,725

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-88) My invention relates generally to dispensingdevices and more particularly to devices for dispensing uids.

Still more specifically my invention relates to devices for dispensingliquid soap which has been sealed in cans preferably of the conventionalcylindrical type and having axially extended annular flanges at theirupper and lower ends.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass immediately above described which is not unduly costly to produce,which is rugged and durable and which is highly eicient in itsoperation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass above described which is relatively foolproof.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass above described wherein a valveequipped reservoir is provided withmeans for mounting and dismounting thereon, for drainage thereinto, ofcans of liquid soap.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass immediately above described wherein the can is clamped betweenopposed sockets, one on the top wall of the reservoir and one on anoverhanging cover, the socket on the top wall of the reservoir havingport means communicating with the reservoir and supporting an upstandingcan end puncturing tooth, and in which said cover is provided with meansfor initially engaging the upstanding marginal flange of a can duringinitial closing movements of the cover and guiding the upper end of thecan into the socket of the cover during lowering of the cover andconsequent puncturing of the bottom of the can by the puncturing tooth.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of theclass immediately above described in which the cover is provided withreleasable means for automatically locking the cover when same is movedto its horizontal position immediately overlying the upper end of thecan.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed specication, appended claims and attacheddrawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section as seen from the line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section as seen from the line 44 of Fig.1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the line 5 5 of Fig.l; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan of the cover as seensubstantially from the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1indicates in its entirety a body, preferably cast from such metal asaluminum, and defining a reservoir 2 having a top wall 3, bottom wall 4,side walls 5, a front wall 6 and a rear wall 7. The rear wall 7 is shownas being provided with conventional means 8 for detachably securing sameto a wall A or other vertical supporting means; whereas the lower wall 4is provided with a discharge valve means identified in its entirety bythe numeral 9 and comprising a horizontally disposed plunger 10 workingin a bore 11. The reduced inner end 12 of the plunger 10 has thereabouta coil compression spring 13 which, working against the inner end 14 ofthe bore 11 and a piston element 15 on the intermediate portion of theplunger 10, biases said plunger toward the extended position of Fig. 3.Note that in such position a port 16 in the bottom wall 4 of thereservoir 2 communicates with a chamber 17 dened by the axially spacedpiston elements 15 and 18. Under this arrangement, retraction of theplunger 10 against the bias of spring 13 will cause a discharge of asmall amount of fluid soap within the reservoir 2 through tht downspout19.

As'shown, the front portion of the top wall 3 of the reservoir 2 isformed to dene an annular seat 20 for the reception of the lower endportion of a suitable can B.

Encompassing the annular seat 2.0 and upstanding with respect to the topwall 3 is an annular flange 21 which, with the seat 20, defines a socket22. Within the seat 20, the top wall 3 is provided with port means 23which communicates with the reservoir 2. Also within the annular seat20, the wall 3 supports an upstanding axial can end puncturing tooth 24.

Also carried by the top wall 3 of the reservoir 2 and as shown,immediately rearwardly of the socket 22, is an upstanding mounting post25. Pivotallly secured as at 26 to the upper end portion of the mountingpost 25 is a'cover 27 having a depending marginal flange 28 which denesa recess or socket 29 for the reception of the upper end portion of thecan B. As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 6, the undersurface 30 ofthe cover 27 is formed, adjacent the pivotal connection 26 thereof tothe mounting post 25, to provide a depending lug 31, which with theadjacent portion of the flange 28 forms a downwardly opening notch 32which receives therein the axially upwardly extended marginal flange 33of the can B during initial closing movements of the cover 27. Underthis arrangement, the can B is positioned so that the puncturing tooth24 is in engagement with the central portion of the bottom 34 thereof.Downward movement from the dotted line showing of Fig. 3 is thenimparted to the cover 27, whereby to cause the ange 33 to be received inthe downwardly opening notch 32. Continued downward movement of thecover 27 forces the puncturing tooth 24 through the bottom 34 with aminimum of ease due to the considerable leverage exerted by the cover 27on the can B. The notch 32 obviously prevents the top of the can B frombeing cammed out of engagement with the cover 27 during closingmovements, and also assures centering of the top of the can B duringfinal closing movements.

Obviously when the puncturing tooth 24 has penetrated the bottom 34 ofthe can B, the contents of the can B will be fed under gravity throughthe port means 23 and into the reservoir 2. For the purpose ofdetermining the level of fluid soap within the reservoir 2, I preferablyprovide a small glass inspection window 35 in the front wall 6 of thereservoir 2.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, and for the purpose ofeliminating tampering and rendering my device relatively foolproof, Iprovide a spring pressed detent 36 which is mounted for retracting andextending movements in the upper end portion of the mounting post 25.The free end of the detent 36 is alignable with and automaticallyreceived within an aperture 37 in one of the bifurcations 38 of therearwardly projecting tongue 39 formed integrally with the cover 27,when the cover 27 is caused to assume its horizontal operative position.

In order to lift the cover, for the purpose of removing or replacing ofthe can B, a small pointed tool is required to retract the detent 36.

My invention has ybeen thoroughly tested andfound to be completelysatisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while Ihave shown a preferred embodimentthe'reof, l wish it to be specificallyunderstood that same is capable of modification without departure fromthe scope and spirit ofthe appended claims.

`What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a body defining a reservoirhaving a top wall, discharge valve means associated with the lower endportion of said. reservoir, means on said body for securing saidbody toa support, said top wall deiining a circular horizontal seat for the-reception of the lower end of a can of the type having axially extendedmarginal iianges on'its upper and lower ends, means centering and4retaining said can on said seat, said top wall vradially inwardly ofsaid seat deiining port means communicating with said reservoir, anupstanding can end puncturing tooth carried by said top wall axially ofsaid seat, an upstanding mountingrpost on said top wall rearwardly ofsaid seat, and a cover pivotally mounted on the upper end of said postfor swinging movements between an upstanding position rearwardly of acan on said seat and a horizontal position immediately overlying saidcan, said cover having a depending marginal iiange which defines adownwardly opening recess for the reception of the upper end of saidcan, said cover being formed'to provide a downwardly opening notchwithin said recess adjacent the pivotal connection thereof to said post,said notch receiving therein the upstanding marginal flange on the upperend portion of said can during initial downward movements of said coverand guiding said can into said recess during final closing movementsthereof against said puncturing tooth.

2. In a device of the class described, a body delining a reservoirhaving a top wall, discharge valve means associated with the lower endportion of said reservoir, means on the rear end portion of said bodyfor detachably securing said body to a vertical support, said top walldening a circular upwardly opening socket having a circular horizontalseat at its base for the reception of the lower end of a can of the typehaving axially extended marginal ang'es on its upper and lower ends,said top wall axially inwardly of said seatdeiining port lmeanscommunicating with said reservoir, an upstanding can end puncturingtooth carriedV by said top wall axially of said seat, an Vupstandingmounting post on said top wall rearwardly of said seat, and a coverpivotally mounted on the upper end of said post for swinging movementsbetween an upstanding position rearwardly of a can on said seat and ahorizontal position immediately overlying said can, said cover having adepending marginal ange which defines a downwardly opening recess forthe reception of theupper end of said can, said cover being formed -toprovide a downwardly opening notch within said recess adjacent thepivotal connection thereof to said post, said notch receiving thereinthe upstanding marginal flange on the upper end portion of said canduring initial downward movements of said cover Iand guiding said caninto said recess during inal closing movements thereof against saidpuncturing tooth.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in further coinbination with meansfor releasably locking said cover in said horizontal position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,355,195 Van Orsdale Oct. 12, A1920 1,557,861 Moreida Oct. 20, 19252,841,311 Parizek July l, 1958

